Rotary cap for containers



April 9, 1963 J. A. KUJANIK, JR

ROTARY CAP FOR CONTAINERS Filed Sept. l5. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jo'sep A. Kujan/'k Jr.

INVENTOR.

BY ara/away MW April 9, 1963 J. A. KUJANIK, JR

ROTARY CAP FOR CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1960 Joseph A. Kujan/r, Jn

INVENTOR. BY @4mm WWZMTW Stats 3,084,334 ROTARY CAP FR CONTAINERS Joseph A. Kujanik, fr., 2249 Crest Road, Gary, Ind. Filed sept. 13, 196e, ser. No. 55,697 15 Claims. (Cl. 222-5l2) The present invention relates to a commodity container which has a neck-like pouring or 4dispensing spout at a discharge'V end of the container and a rotatably mounted closure or cap which is effectually attached to the container so that it cannot get lost.

It is amatter of common knowledge that the 'art to which the instant invention relates is well developed and currently active. One objective in respect to the instant endeavor is to advance the art and, in so doing, to provide a container and closing cap, in combination, which ,satisfactorily serve the purposes for which they, collectively considered, are intended.

Another object is to improve upon Patent 2,917,209

issued to me on December l5, 1959. With this in mind it is deemed advisable to introduce certain aspects of the Iinstant matter by iirst acquainting the reader with the Vbody member mounted for rotation atop the end of the tube. which is pivoted to turn on a proper axial center. A

More particularly, the cap has a disk-like member iiexibly resilient capping and closing finger is provided to `ride and snap over the discharge end of the neck or spout.

l If reference is made to the stated patent it will also f be noted that the off-center projecting neck extends through and beyond an eccentric arcuate slot in the cap and that the cap is provided with marginal finger-grips and that in most instances a hold-down lug is fastened on the spout with portions thereof arranged to overlie cooperating portions of the disk or body portion to ob- "tain the desired assembling and maintenance of component parts.

In carrying out the underlying principles of the instant invention, the chief characteristics and features of the aforementioned patent are retained. While experimenting with the use of the patented cap or closure means on varying types of containers certain changes and adaptations :have been evolved and produced.` For instance, there is a squirtatype can for oils and similar commodities 'on the market which has springy walls which when squeezed ,by ones fingers functions to eject the com- 4modity through a projecting neck-like spout. As will ybe hereinafter disclosed, a special adaptation of the cap or closure herein under advisement has been devised and worked out. To this end, the disk-like body portion,

Awhich carries the resilient spout opening and closing finger is nicely fitted into position on the can with its outer marginal edges cooperatively associated with requi- `site nicety with the adjacent encompassing portions of the short upstanding rim atop the can. It follows that the can with this improved valving cap or closure better Vserves the purposes for which it is intended to be used.

Another and a significant aspect of the over-all concept `in relation to the prior patent and any analogous prior art has to do with a container of one type or another having a discharge end provided with an outstanding disarent fice charge neck, a neck valving finger having a liexibly resilient free end portion resting yieldingly atop the outlet end of said neck and normally closing said outlet, a manually rotatable finger-actuating member rotatably mounted atop said `discharge end and having a slot, said neck extending through and beyond said slot, the other end portion of said linger being joined to said actuating member whereby when said actuating member is caught hold of and intentionally turned counterclockwise the free end of the nger moves away from and uncovers and opens the neck and when turned clockwise moves toward and again covers and closes the neck, and spring biasing means cooperable with the container and member, respectively, and functioning to automatically urge the linger to assume and maintain its normal neck-closing position.

The present invention also features the construction and arrangement briefly touched upon above and an adaptation thereof wherein the spring-biasing means is associated and cooperatively mounted that it functions automatically, when the nger is in the neck opening position, to temporarily hold the finger in that position until intentionally released. Then, too, novelty is predicated 'on having one end of the arcuate slot cooperate with the neck so that said one end constitutes a limit stop for the aforementioned member, and also having a median bent portion of the finger cooperating with the neck and serving as an alternating limit stop for the rotary motion of said member.

Construed from a slightly different point of View and, specifically speaking, novelty is predicated on a container having a discharge end provided with an elevated portion generally circularV in plan and cross-section and surrounded by an endless iiat ledge and provided eccentrically with an outstanding commodity discharge neck, said container having a deformable body portion which when squeezed manually ejects and dispenses the commodity through the discharge end of said neck, a cap having a disk-like body portion and a depending annular skirt portion surrounding the elevated portion on said container and resting atop and turnable relative to said ledge, said fdisk-like portion having an arcuate slot therein, said `neck extending through and outwardly beyond the slot and disk-likerbody portion, and a neck opening Iand closing linger having one end attached to said disk-like body portion and a free end movable toward and from the discharge end of the neck and liexibly resilient and yieldably cooperable with the discharge end of said neck and normally closing said neck.

Itis also` a matter of moment in carrying out the various ideas under advisement that novelty is traceable, not only to the cap in combination with the eccentric neck-on a-container, but to the cap by itself as a feasible new article `of manufacture, particularly a cap which can be made and sold as such and applied as an individual entity, and which features the spring-loading or biasing improvement.

AThese together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like `numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a fragmentary portion of a snap-action dispensing can of the Vaforementioned type with a squirt nozzle or spout and showing, what is more important, the improved closing cap or means and with the linger in open position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same but with the finger closed.

FIG. 3 is a section on the vertical line 3 3 of FIG.

j spring-loaded.

1 looking in the direction of the arrows, parts appearing in section and elevation.

FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic plan view of the form shown inFIG. 1 used on a modified container, drawn fragmentarily, and illustrating a significant use of -force vectors.

^ FIG. 4 is a top plan view with the finger open Showing a modified construction wherein a cylindrical or circular Y collapsible tube is employed.

FIG. 5 is a view taken on the section line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6-is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the association and arrangement with the finger closed.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a further modification with the finger in open position.

FIG. 9 is a view in section and elevation taken on the plane of the line 9 9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the sam but with -the finger in its closed position.

FIG. 11 is a section on the horizontal line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an open view in section and elevation similar to FIGS. 5 and 9 but showing a modified type of a container and the cap in combination therewith.

By way of introduction to the description of the details it is to be pointed out that one embodiment ('FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive) illustrates a simplified cap construction with the top of the body portion provided with circumferentially spaced finger-grips which function obviously to facilitate grasping and turning the cap with ease. This particular cap construction is primarily designed for satisfactory use on a container having a large flat top or equivalent surface with appropriate pouring means. The other several embodiments of the invention differ from that Vseen in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, in that they are designed primarily for use in a container having a special discharge end construction. These embodiments involve an innovation; namely, an elastic band or equivalent spring means rendering the over-all cap construction With these adaptations when the cap is caught hold of and turned from the fully closed position to the fully open position, the point Where the spring loading means is attached to the cap body or disk passes through and slightly beyond a dead center position. After this point passes through the dead center position, the spring-biasing means holds the cap in a fully open position. To close the cap, a flick of the finger to the outside marginal edge of the cap will cause the point, where the spring means is attached to the cap, to travel a short distance and go beyond the dead center position. Then, the spring-biasing means takes over and the cap carrying its unique closing finger moves toward and eventually closes the discharge end of the neck-like spout (neck, nipple or equivalent pourer).

Reference will be had first to FIGS. l to 3, inclusive. Here the container, to be specific, is a metal rectangular can `14. This is the type of a can which is buckled or sprung when finger pressure is exerted thereon. These cans are sometimes referred to as deformable and are possessed of a snap-back action. In other words, when the side Walls are pressed a pump action results and the contents of the can is squirted through the discharge neck or spout. In any event, the generally flat large area top isjdenoted at |16 and in accordance with the instant invenp tion itis provided adjacent one corner with an off-center neck-like dispensing spout 18. The inner end portion 20 'is welded or otherwise secured in place by a collar or v`flange '22 and the outer open end 24 projects beyond the wall 16 and also beyond the short upstanding rim 25 embodying a transverse end flange Z6- joining longitudinal side fianges 28 which are specifically mentioned here to bring out the point that (FIG. r1) the diameter of the cap is such that the margial or peripheral edge contacts and aosasea turns in close proximity to the all three flanges 26 and 28. The flat-faced disk-like body portion of the cap (which may be of plastic or other suitable material) is denoted at 30. The underneath side has rotary contact with the can top or wall 15 as best shown in FIG. 3. The narrow curved portion 3l of the disk 30 is located between both the longitudinal flange or rim 28 closest to the spout, the short upstanding flange or rim 25, and the spout v18 to facilitate guiding the cap disk and closing finger in proper rotary closing and opening relationship to the spout. The top side of the disk is provided with circumferentially spaced lugs constituting finger-grips v32. As best shown in FIG. 2, the disk is provided with an arcuate slot 34 through and beyond which the spout or neck -18 projects in the manner shown. One curvate end of the slot constitutes a limit stop 36 in that it limits the turning of the cap or disk in a counterclockwise spout-opening direction. It should be noted that the median portion of the spout is provided with an assembling and hold-down member which is here specifically referred to as a holddown lug 38. The median central apertured portion of the lug is fiXedly secured to the spout in the manner i1- lustrated and the outer end portion 40 overlies the cooperating underneath portion of the disk. The inner projecting end 41 overlies the lobe-like axial central portion 4&2. This assembly, that is, the lug serving as holddown means is like the corresponding construction disclosed in the previous Patent 2,917,209. The opening and closing finger, which is carried by the cap or disk, is denoted as an entity by the numeral 43. The outer widened end 44 of the finger Lil-3y is superimposed on and rigidly secured atop the outer marginal portion of the disk or body 13? within the outer marginal limits of the latter as is clear in FIG. 3. The linger then narrows and is bent laterally upward as at 46 and the bends in a curvate manner inwardly and toward the spout. The terminal end portion is yieldable and is denoted at 48 and it is flared and resiliently flexible to perform the desired slide-over neck closing result. The junctional bend 50 between the vertical and lhorizontal portions 46 and 48 provides a limit stop which is adapted to abut the neck and limit the turning of the over-al1 cap in a clockwise direction. With this construction the can top 16 can be modified by adding and annexing the pouring spout or neck 1.8, said spout provided with the hold-down lug 38 and then the rotary plastic cap can be assembled and put in position in the manner shown. It follows therefore that the cap with the closing finger lends itself to use as a feasible solution of this previously unsolved problem.

It will be noted that the cap and closing finger so far described (FIGS. l to 3) is without the spring-biasing or loading means. The rest of the forms of the invention do, howeveninclude the spring-biasing means.

Whereas there exists coordinate proportioning and relationship of component parts in FIG. 1, it is clear that such is a fact only because the outside diameter of the cap disk 30 is such that the peripheral edge actually rides against all three flanges 26 and 28 and thus provides three-point (disk and fianges) contact. However,

and in the case of flat top deformable type larger cans and containers (of one-half gallon and one gallon capacity) proper steps have to be taken to bring about a corresponding cap mounting and pouring result. To this end, the spout 128A is located at a prescribed point or place relative to the two perpendicular flanges 28A and 26A, which is to say, the spout is located in one comer of the can top as shown in FIG. 3A. Since the area of the top wall 16A is wide and spacious the other longitudinal fiange 28A (not shown) would be some distance from the edge of the disk 30A; the result: a two-point contact situation, as distinguished from the three-point arrangement of FIG. 1.

Now then, 4and referring to FIG. 3A (diagrammatically one of gallon size whose top 16A has a corner-positioned la flat top side.

words, it may be a coil spring or the like. ably, however, a properly tensioned elastic band or rubber spout 18A. The single lines 26A and 28A designate the aforementioned flanges 'The equidistant circumferentially spaced force arrows are designated A, B and C. -The outer segmental edge 33 of the arcuate slot 35 has constant wiping contact with the coacting side of the spout. The peripheral edge 37 of the band-like portion 31A contacts the anges 28A and 26A at the two arrow points A and C. Thus with two flanges 26A and 28A at right angles to each other, a corner-positioned spout 18A, and edge 33 -wiping against the spout at B, the disk 30A is 'uniquely mounted and rotatingly =held in proper rotating position even on a large can top whose other longitudinal ilange (not shown) is at a point remote lfrom the disk and s out.

pReference will be made now to FIGS. 4 to 7, inclusive. With particular reference to FIG. 5 the cylindrical collapsible tube or container is denoted by the numeral 52. Here the top is reduced in cross-section to form a mount or riser 54 which is cylindrical in cross-section but has The cross-section is such that the surrounding part 56 provides an endless or annular ledge. Here the disk-like body of the cap is denoted by the numeral 58 and the marginal edge is serrated with the serrations defining suitably curved somewhat ornamental finger-grips 60. The arcuate slot 62 permits passage of the off-center discharge neck or spout 64 therethrough. One end of the slot may constitute a limit stop as already explained. The spout is provided with the aforementioned hold-down lug 66 with its end portions 68 and 70 functioning in the obvious hold-down manner seen in FIG.V 5. Again, the lug bridges or spans the cooperating 72 which constitutes a sort of a skirt and this encircles and rotates around the embraced riser or mound 54. The lower edge thereof rides on the ledge 56. On one side vertical slots are cut to dene an intervening tongue which is denoted at 74 and which constitutes an anchoring element for the biasing spring. This spring may b e of any equivalent construction to that shown. In other It is preferband 76. One end portion '/'8 embraces and is anchored on the lower portion of the spout or neck. The other end portion is titted into the slots and embraces and is anchored on the anchoring element 74 as denoted at Sil in FIG. 5. The closing linger is denoted generally at 82 and has a widened end portion 84 atop and integral with the disk proper. Then, the laterally elevated or upstanding portion 86 merges by way of the bend 88 into the suitably angled curved and flared resilient free end portion 90 which constitutes the valving element. Here again, the arcuate slot at thetleft hand end limits the turning movement in a counterclockwise direction and the finger limits the movement in an opposite or clock- -wise direction. In this form of the invention and in other forms employing the spring-biasing feature it will be seen that the spring or elastic element 76 serves to I normally swing the closure toward its clockwise closing position. When the disk is caught hold of and turned counterclockwise the band or spring is placed under tenv sion and when the outer anchored end portion 80 swings advance in the art.

The embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 8, 9, and 1l -will now be described. The principle of construction already touched upon is again comprehended in this embodiment. The container or collapsible tube is denoted at V92, the flat top 94 having an off-center or connection between the cap and container.

grips are denoted at 138, the arcute slot at 140, the hold- `principles of the invention.

l98 with a depending annular rim 100 which is recessed to provide a shoulder which telescopically receives the upper end portion 94. The outstanding ange 101 is provided with suitable finger-grips 102. The arcuate slot 104 permits passage of the spout or neck. Here again, the neck is provided with a hold-down lug 106 with end portions 108 spanning the slot and holding the cap as- -sembled on the container and spout or neck. The elastic band 110 has one end portion 112 looped around the spout or neck and the other end looped around a depending detent 114 as shown in the drawing. The integral closing nger is denoted again as a unit by the numeral 116 and has an attached end portion 118 (FIG. 8), an elevated median portion 120 and a flexibly resilient liared free end portion 122 which is properly curved and angled to cause the boss 124 to telescope into the discharge end of the neck or spout to effect a satisfactory closing action as depicted in FIG. 10. Here again, one end of the arcuate slot provides a limit stop `in a direction from left to right and the closing linger 116 is properly shaped and -angled so that it effects a stop in the opposite direction to make sure that the boss 1,24 effects the closing action depicted in FIG. l0. f

The final modification in FIG. l2 is much like the ones already described. Here the container, a collapsible tube, is denoted by the numeral 126 and the top 128 has an eccentric discharge spout or neck 130 and an upstanding flange 132 which forms a sort of a Well or recess to receive the annular skirt 134 on the underneath side of the disk or body portion 136 of the cap. In other words, the skirt-like flange 134 provides a satisfactory rotating The fingerdown lug at 142 with its end portions designated at 144 and 146, respectively. Here again, the closing linger is integral with and constitutes a component part of' the over-all cap and it is denoted at 148, has an upstanding vmedian portion 150, a bend 152 and a curved resilient freeend valving portion 154 which moves toward and from the discharge end of the spout and functions in the manner already shown and described. The Aelastic band here is designated at 156 and has its end portions 158 and 160 anchored in the manner shown. There is a space between the top 128 and the disk or body portion 140 to accommodate the elastic band. It will be noted in connection with FIG. 8 already described that a center line is there shown which should suice for all yof the other views merely to bring out the principle of the outer end of the rubber band moving to a position beyond deadcenter whereupon the rubber band serves as a temporary retainer to keep the cap open. Once the tension of the band is overcome by moving or rotating the cap through a slight arcuate path counterclockwise the band then comes into play to automatically swing the cap to its fully closed position.

v generally well known manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the Further, since numerous modilications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention 7 to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. In combination, .a container having a discharge end provided with an outstanding discharge neck, a neck valving finger having one end free and ilexibly resilient resting yieldingly atop the outlet end of said neck and normally closing said outlet end, a manually rotatable finger-actuating member rotatably mounted atop said discharge end and having 'a slot, said neck extending through and beyond said slot, the other end portion of said finger being joined to said actuating member whereby when -said actuating member is caught hold of and intentionally turned couterclockwise the free end of the finger moves away from and uncovers and opens the neck and when turned clockwise moves toward and again covers and closes the neck, and spring biasing means cooper-.able with the container Vand member respectively, and functioning to automatically urge the finger to assume and maintain its normal neck-closing position, said spring biasing means having one end connected with the neck and the other end connected with a marginal portion of said member and being so associated i 1 and cooperatively mounted between the container and member that it functions, when the finger is in neck-opening position, to temporarily hold the finger in said neckopening position.

2. In combination, a container having a discharge end provided with an outstanding discharge neck, a neck valving finger having one end free and flexible resilient resting yieldingly atop the outlet end of said neck and normally closing said outlet end, a manually rotatable finger-actuating member rotatably mounted atop said discharge end and having a slot, said neck extending through and beyond said slot, the other end portion of said finger being joined to said actuating member whereby when said actuating member is caught hold of and intentionally turned counterclockwise the free end of the finger moves away from and uncovers and opens the neck and when turned clockwise moves toward and again covers and closes the neck, and spring biasing means cooperable with the container and member respectively, and functioning to automatically urge the finger to assume and maintain its normal neck-closing position, said spring biasing means being interposed between the container and said finger-actuating member and so associated and cooperatively mounted that it functions, when the nger is in neck-opening position, to temporarily hold the finger in that position, one end of said slot cooperating with said neck and constituting a limit stop for said member when rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and a portion of said finger having a bent portion cooperating with said neck and serving as an alternating limit stop for rotary movement of said member in a clockwise direction.

3. In combination, a container having a discharge end provided with an outstanding discharge neck, a neck valving inger having a llexibly resilient free end portion resting yieldingly atop the outlet end of said neck and normally closing said outlet, a manually rotatable fingeractuating member rotatably mounted atop said discharge end and having a slot, said neck extending through and beyond said slot, thev other end portion of said finger being joined to said actuating member whereby when said actuating member is caught hold of and intentionally turned counterclockwise the free end of the finger moves away from and uncovers and opens the neck and when turned clockwise moves toward and again covers and closes the neck, said member being centrally pivoted, said slot being arcuate in plan and eccentrically located relative to the central pivoting point of said member,

one end portion of said `slot abutting said neck when the member is turned counterclockwise and limiting the movement of the member in the counterclockwise direction, a portion of said finger cooperating with said neck and limiting the turning movement of the member in a clockwise direction, and spring biasing means cooperable with the container and said member, respectively, and functioning to automatically urge the member to assume and maintain its normal neck-closing position. 1

4. The combination of claim 3, and wherein said spring biasing means has one end removably connected with said neck and the other end removably connected with a marginal portion of said member and is so associated and cooperatively mounted between the container and member that functions, when the nger is in neckopening position, to temporarily hold the finger in said neck-opening position.

5. In combination, a container having a discharge end provided with an outstanding discharge neck, a neck valving linger having a flexibly resilient free end portion resting yieldingly atop the outlet end of -said neck and normally closing said outlet, a manually rotatable finger-actuating member rotatably mounted atop said discharge end and having a slot, said neck extending through and beyond said slot, the other end portion of said finger being joined to said actuating member whereby when said actuating member is caught hold of and intentionally turned counterclockwise the free end of the nger moves away from and uncovers and opens the neck and when turned clockwise moves toward and again covers and closes the neck, and a biasing spring having one end separably connected to and retentively anchored on said neck and the other end separably connected to and cooperable with a predetermined outer marginal portion of said member.

6. In combination, a container having a discharge end provided with an outstanding discharge neck, a neck valving finger having a rllexibly resilient free end portion resting yieldingly atop the outlet end of said neck and normally closing said outlet, a manually rotatable fingeractuating member rotatably mounted atop said discharge end and having a slot, said neck extending through and beyond said slot, the other end portion of said finger being joined to said actuating member whereby when said actuating member is caught hold of and intentionally turned counterclockwise the free end of the linger moves away from and uncovers and opens the neck and when turned clockwise moves toward and again covers and closes the neck, and a biasing spring having one end connected to and cooperable with said neck and the other end connected to and cooperable with a predetermined portion of said member, said member having a disk-like body portion spaced in parallelism from the discharge end of said container and providing a space, said biasing spring being located and conned for operation in said space.

`7. -In combination, a container having a discharge end provided with an outstanding discharge neck, a neck valving finger having a iiexibly resilient free end portion resting yieldingly atop the outlet end of said neck and normally closing said outlet, a manually rotatable fingeractuating member rotatably mounted atop said discharge end and having a slot, said neck extending through and beyond said slot, the other end Yportion kof said finger being joined to said actuating memberwhereby when said actuating member is caught hold of and intentionally turned counterclockwise the free end of the finger moves away from and uncovers and opens the neck and when turned clockwise moves toward and 4again covers and closes the neck, said member embodying a disk-like body portion generally circular in plan, and a depending annular portion encompassing and rotatable about a cooperating portion of the discharge end of said container, said depending portion having direct rotatable contact with a coactin'g surface portion of said discharge end, said disk-like body portion being spaced fnom the adjacent surface of said cooperating portion, and a biasing v 9 spring having an inner end portion connection to said neck and an outer end portion connected to said depending annular portion, the major part of said biasing spring being confined in said space.

8. In combination, Aa vcontainer having a discharge end provided with Aan elevated portion generally circular in plan andcross-section and Asurrounded by an endless iiat ledge and provided eccentrically with an outstanding commodity discharge neck, said container having a deformable body portion which when squeezed manually ejects and dispenses the commodity through the discharge end of said neck, a cap having a disk-like body portion and a depending annular skirt portion surrounding the elevated portion on said container and resting atop and turnable relative to said ledge, said disk-like portion having an arcuate slot therein, said neck extending through and outwardly beyond the slot and disk-like body portion, and a neck opening and closing finger having one end attached to said disk-like body portion and a free end movable toward and from the discharge end of the neck and flexibly resilient and yieldably cooperable with the discharge end of said neck and normally closing said neck, said disk-like portion being spaced from the underlying portion of the discharge end of the container, said depending skirt portion having vertical slots defining an intervening anchoring element, and an elastic band arranged and confined in the space and having one end portion surrounding the neck and the other end portion surrounding said anchoring element.

9. The structure defined in claim 8, and wherein one end of said slot constitutes a limit stop engageable with said neck and limiting the counterclockwise movement of said cap so that said anchoring element passes slightly beyond a dead-center position, whereby said elastic band functions to'retain the cap in a neck-:opening position, said cap having marginal finger-grips which when caught hold of and flipped with the fingers causes the cap to automatically return to dead center whereupon the band then automatically urges and rotates the cap to assume its normal neck-closing position.

10. lFor use on a deformable container for a commodity which is dispensed when the container is manually squeezed, said container having a discharge end provided with an oit-center outwardly projecting discharge neck, a cap having a disk-like body portion provided with an arcuate slot, said slot adapted to permit passage of the neck through and beyond the slot, said cap having fingergrips marginally positioned and having means whereby it may be rotatably mounted atop the discharge end of the container, said disk-like body portion having a iinger rigidly joined at one end and having the other end flexibly resilient and free and movable toward and from the neck in a manner to open and close the neck, said cap also having a depending annulus formed with a band anchoring element, and an elastic band one end of which is connectible releasably with said anchoring element, the

other end of the band adapted to be attached to for cooperation with said discharge neck in a manner to parallel cooperating surface of said body portion.

l1. For use on a manually squeezable container having a neck-like discharge spout, a rotary-type closing cap mounted for rotation on the discharge end of said container and adapted to be turned counterclockwise by hand to assume an open position, said cap having springloading means and being automatically rotated clockwise from an open to a closing position and having means to open and close the discharge end of said spout, said spring-loading means having an end portion movable to and beyond a dead-center position in a manner to ternporarily retain the cap in an open position poised for ready closing when given the desired initial impetus.

'12. In combination, a compressibly resilient container having deformable snap-back walls which respond to a1- ternating finger .pressure and forcibly squirt the containers contents through a projecting neck-like spout, the upper 10 discharge end of said container having an outstanding pouringY spout and being generally at and being marginally surrounded by a short projecting rim; a closing cap for the spout embodying a flat disk-like body portion having Aan arcuate slot through and beyond which said spout projects, a hold-down lug Efixed on and lateral to -a median portion of the spout, said lug bridging the slot and having end portions resting atop said body portion and retaining the latter on the container and spout in rotary Contact with the discharge end of said container and sandwiched between the discharge end and overlapping lug, circumferentially spaced edge portions of said body having wiping contact with cooperating surface portions iof the aforementioned rim, the top of said body having upstanding circumferentially spaced finger-grips, and closing means carried by said body portion and movable toward and from and opening and closing the discharge end of said spout.

13. For use on a compressibly resilient container having defonmable snap-back walls which respond to alternating finger pressure and forcibly squirt the containers contents through a projecting neck-like spout, the upper discharge end of said container having said spout being generally fiat and being surrounded by a short projecting marginal rim; an improved closing cap for the spout embodying a flat disk-like body portion having an arcuate slot through and beyond which said spout projects, a hold-down lug fixed on and lateral to a median portion of the spout, said lug bridging the slot and having end portions resting atop said body portion and retaining the latter on the container and spout in rotary contact with said discharge end and sandwiched between the discharge end and lug, circumferentially spaced edge portions of said body having rotary Contact with coacting portions of the aforementioned rim, the top of said body having upstanding circumferentially spaced nger grips, and a valving finger for the discharge end of said spout, said nger joined at one end to the body and having a resilient free end positioned to yieldingly rest atop the discharge end of the spout.

z14. In combination, a container circular in cross `section and collapsible and squeezable in a manner to eject the contents, said container having a top marginally surrounded by an upstanding endless flange defining a rim, said top being provided eccentrically With a discharge neck, `a manually turnable closing cap rotatable relative to the top and having a slot through and beyond which the neck projects, said cap having a disk-like body portion, a closing finger having one end connected to the cap and a free end resiliently cooperating with the discharge end of the discharge neck, said cap being provided on an underside thereof with an annular depending skirt portion telescoping into the receptacle portion defined by the cooperation of the top and upstanding rim of the container, the outer periphery of said skirt portion having rotatable contact with the interior surface of the circumscri-bing rim.

Al5. For use on a compressibly resilient container having deformable snap-back walls which respond to alternating linger pressure and forcibly squirt the containers contents through a projecting neck-like spout, the upper discharge end of said container having said spout being generally iiat and being surrounded by a short projecting marginal rim; an improved closing cap for the spout embodying a fiat disk-like body portion having an arcuate slot through and beyond which said spout projects, a holddown lug fixed on and lateral to a median portion of the spout, said lug bridging the slot and having end portions resting atop said -body portion and retaining the latter on the container and spout in rotary contact with said discharge end and sandwiched between the discharge end and lug, the upper end of said container constituting a ilat top wall and having at least two upstanding flanges at right angles to each other, circumferentially spaced portions of the outer peripheral edge of said disk-like body portion having direct but rotatable contact with predetermined surfaces of the flanges, and said arcuate slot having an outer segmental edge in direct movable constant wiping Contact with a limited cooperating surface of said spout, and a valving nger for .the discharge end of Said spout, said finger being joined at one end atop the body portion and having a free resilient end operating in the path of movement which allows it to rest yieldingly Vatop the discharge end of the spout when -the spout is closed.

References Cited in the ie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson Sept. 21, 1880 Mason Nov. 25, 1913 Strehs Sept. 18, 1934 Kujanik Dec. 15, 1959 

1. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER HAVING A DISCHARGE END PROVIDED WITH AN OUTSTANDING DISCHARGE NECK, A NECK VALVING FINGER HAVING ONE END FREE AND FLEXIBLY RESILIENT RESTING YIELDINGLY ATOP THE OUTLET END OF SAID NECK AND NORMALLY CLOSING SAID OUTLET END, A MANUALLY ROTATABLE FINGER-ACTUATING MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ATOP SAID DISCHARGE END AND HAVING A SLOT, SAID NECK EXTENDING THROUGH AND BEYOND SAID SLOT, THE OTHER END PORTION OF SAID FINGER BEING JOINED TO SAID ACTUATING MEMBER WHEREBY WHEN SAID ACTUATING MEMBER IS CAUGHT HOLD OF AND INTENTIONALLY TURNED COUTERCLOCKWISE THE FREE END OF THE FINGER MOVES AWAY FROM AND UNCOVERS AND OPENS THE NECK AND WHEN TURNED CLOCKWISE MOVES TOWARD AND AGAIN COVERS AND CLOSES THE NECK, AND SPRING BIASING MEANS COOPERABLE WITH THE CONTAINER AND MEMBER RESPECTIVELY, AND FUNCTIONING TO AUTOMATICALLY URGE THE FINGER TO ASSUME AND MAINTAIN ITS NORMAL NECK-CLOSING POSITION, SAID SPRING BIASING MEANS HAVING ONE END CONNECTED WITH THE NECK AND THE OTHER END CONNECTED WITH A MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID MEMBER AND BEING SO ASSOCIATED AND COOPERATIVELY MOUNTED BETWEEN THE CONTAINER AND MEMBER THAT IT FUNCTIONS, WHEN THE FINGER IS IN NECK-OPENING POSITION, TO TEMPORARILY HOLD THE FINGER IN SAID NECKOPENING POSITION. 